Military & Veterans
Najiba Mammadova, Shivani Ghaisas, Gary Zenitsky, Donald S. Sakaguchi, Anumantha G. Kanthasamy, Justin J. Greenlee, M. Heather West Greenlee. Lasting Retinal Injury in a Mouse Model of Blast-Induced Trauma. The American Journal of Pathology, 2017; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.03.005
Modern military conflict has dramatically increased the number of military personnel and civilians exposed to blast wave pressure. Although traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a well-recognized consequence of extreme blast waves, it is less appreciated that over 80% of combat veterans with TBI also develop visual problems. A new study in The American Journal of Pathology reports that blast exposure that does not cause detectable changes in the brain can result in long-term retinal injury. Researchers identified early indicators of retinal injury and inflammation that may help detect individuals at risk of visual impairment who would then benefit from more timely treatment.